Effective Altruism’s Post

📢 Let’s dive into the new and improved 80,000 Hours career guide. The essence of our guide in one sentence? To have a fulfilling career, get good at something and then use it to tackle pressing global problems. But let's dive a bit deeper: 🔑 Understanding job satisfaction Don’t just follow your passion. Instead, your job satisfaction will grow over time as you: 1️⃣ Understand what work fits with you. 2️⃣ Master valuable skills. 3️⃣ Use those skills to find engaging work that genuinely benefits others. 🚀 The three career stages 1. Explore: Make finding an option that fits you best your key focus early-career. Don’t go with your gut; instead, carefully investigate your uncertainties. 2. Build career capital: Invest in yourself. Aim for roles that let you get good at valuable skills, and build your reputation, connections, character, and financial runway. 3. Deploy: Channel your career capital into addressing pressing global problems. 🌍 Focus on more pressing global problems Which issues should you target? Look for problems that are large in scale yet neglected, and also solvable. Problems like risks from AI and pandemic prevention come to mind. 🌟 Think broadly about how to contribute Think broadly about all the ways you might contribute to find the best.. You could: 💡 Research new solutions. 🗣 Communicate and spread awareness. 🤝 Build communities. 💵 Earn money — and give it away. 🏛 Shape policies and institutions. 🎗️ Build effective organisations. 🔬 To find what fits you best, think like a scientist Determine your ideal path with a methodical approach: 📌 Predict promising paths. 📌 Identify uncertainties. 📌 Test, refine, repeat. Remember to always have a backup plan B, and a plan Z if everything goes wrong. 🗺️ Planning your career journey When it comes to career planning, think about both your long-term vision and your next steps. Work backwards from your vision and work forwards from interesting opportunities, even if you’re not sure where they’ll lead! 💼 How to get a job Resumes showcase your past, but what about your potential? 🤝 Get leads through genuine connections. 💡 Prove that you can do the work by actually doing some. 🤲 Making a difference Even if you're not pivoting careers, you can still drive change: 💰 Make impactful donations. 📣 Consider political advocacy. 🌱 Support others to address world issues. By working together, in our lifetimes, we can prevent the next pandemic and mitigate the risks of AI, we can end extreme global poverty and factory farming — and we can do this while having interesting, fulfilling lives too. So let’s do it. You have 80,000 hours in your career. Don’t waste them. Read our guide: https://lnkd.in/d8Qmdwu2

I don't have a concrete idea of what my first official job will be, so I am exploring all the roles in the non-profit industry. I found this article very illuminating, and it impacted me because I would use a personal experience map to discover which career direction to take. Also to envision the future steps I need to take to become valuable in my field. I love the idea of finding leaders in the non-profit industry and asking for their insights. #nonprofit #careergrowth #experience #insightful

Hurdles upon hurdles upon hurdles! The past couple of years have taught us a lot about the power of teamwork, through trial and error, miscommunication, lack of funds, etc., having a community (and communities) believe in your cause makes every step worth it. Despite the trials and errors, here are some 2023 takeaways; 1. Communicate with your team: Being open and having transparent communication is key when working with any team, especially with a team that's scattered across continents. At times we found members lacking one or two key pieces of information which meant a 3am call for someone or an evening WhatsApp call for clarification. Regularly check in with your team to share updates, challenges, and successes while also accepting the reality that being on call at odd hours is highly probable. Establish a supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and concerns, even if it means rejecting ideas. Collaborate on solutions and ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding the goals and outcomes. 2. Work with what you have: Recognize the limitations and constraints, and find creative ways to work within those parameters. Do you have a particular budget and you're short of it? What's the end goal and is it worth pursuing a mediocre product? can the community go without the information/project? If not, find a way to make it happen by utilizing existing resources efficiently and identifying alternative solutions when faced with limitations. Be adaptable! 3. Document everything: Keep detailed records of your interactions, initiatives, and outcomes. Not only does this allow something to fall back on but it is essential for assessing the effectiveness of the efforts, identifying areas for improvement, and demonstrating the impact of your work to stakeholders and funders. 4. Keep the community at the forefront of your outcomes: Constantly remind yourself and your team that the ultimate goal is to benefit the community. Regularly assess the impact of your initiatives on the community and gather feedback from colleagues and beneficiaries. By maintaining a community-centered approach, you ensure that your efforts align with the genuine needs of those you are working to support. 5. Have faith: Perseverance often requires a strong belief in the positive impact that your work can have. Working in Africa, like anywhere, comes with accepting certain setbacks. Have faith in your team, keep the community in mind, and the potential for major changes. Celebrate small victories, learn from setbacks, and remain committed to your mission. Our goal at The Okra Network is to foster strong relationships among non-profits and the communities they serve and we're just getting started! We trust the process and hope to connect with all of you along the way! #nonprofit #nonprofitorganization #africanexcellence

From Siberia's cold expanse to London's urban jungle, and right into the Silicon Valley hustle, my life's been anything but a straight line. And here's the raw truth: the biggest challenge? It's never been the location changes, the cultural shifts, or even the entrepreneurial grind. It's been my SELF-DOUBT. Reflecting on the path, I dived into a career journey in the UK without a single contact in the new country. Built a sustainable period care company PlumThyme from the ground up in the Bay Area. Co-founded a non-profit Career Pathway Institute to empower immigrants. And the secret sauce? Backing myself, every single step. Here's what I learned: too many of us are stuck (just like in that 'Waiting Place' from Dr Seuss's wisdom). Holding out for an external nod, a green light, perhaps even a grand fanfare. But, here’s the kicker - the only approval we truly need is our own. Think about the last time you cheered up a friend or colleague, told them they're pure gold and can crush it. Now, when was the last time you gave that pep talk to your own reflection? 🤔 If you’re not rooting for yourself, who's going to? Betting on yourself is more than a catchy phrase – it’s the foundation. Let’s cut through the self-doubt, embrace the grind, and dive into our passions. Because there's an entire universe of opportunity waiting, but it starts with YOU saying "I've got this." 💪 #selfdoubt #empowering #ownyourstory #believeinyourself

It is about that Switch …. Until then, i  had never thought of a career switch from a  non-profit sector! A networking event changed my perception. I met someone who shared information that there was an organisation that was looking for a professional to pioneer a HR role in a nonprofit making sector. By then, I was working in a financial institution which was scaling up and rolling up its sleeves everywhere. Honestly, it was fun to be part of this growth. I felt how important it was for young people from tough backgrounds to get good education. And how much potential there was in young entrepreneurs. It made me feel really good to be a part of helping them. This was the catalyst.This is the organisation that made me feel the importance of giving people dignity and empowering them and not just profits . So, I decided to switch to working in the non-profit sector. It wasn't easy because things were different there. Instead of conversation around profits, people cared more about helping others and making the world a better place.  I experienced a unique culture .It felt more meaningful. I discovered new skills and perspectives that I never knew I had. I learned the importance of empathy, collaboration, and resilience in addressing complex social issues. Every day brought new challenges, but also new opportunities for growth and development. I found joy in being part of a team that shared my passion for helping people. We addressed social and economic issues like poverty, sustainability ,education, conflicts, youth & women empowerment ,health ,governance and protecting the environment. The best part was the results and impact of hard work. Whether it was getting children into school, helping communities in need, or saving nature, every little win made me feel like I was doing the right thing. This transition over the years has translated into showing up to the world. It has  opened new  opportunities in consulting and world of transforming lives. Our talents and passions inspire us to possibilities and influence. Andrew Grove stated 'You own your career .You need to accept ownership of your career ,your skills and the timing of your moves' ''It is your responsibility to protect this personal business of yours.Nobody else can do that for you'. Even small actions can have a big impact. Just like you seek for legal services or visit a medical doctor there comes a time that your career ,your leadership, strategy ,HR advisory services needs re- positioning. Contact me to help you and your organisation to drive positive change through consulting services and speaking engagements. #globallinkedinbootcampwithmuthoni  #shareyourstorywithmuthoni Terry S.Terry KariukiJames Karanja 

Impact. This is one of the most important things to me, especially in the work I want to pursue. So, it's no wonder I go down the rabbit hole on Google Search and YouTube, reading and watching stuff on impactful careers. Of all the resources I've come across so far, this one resource stands out: 80,000 Hours. 80,000 Hours is a non-profit that exists for the sole purpose of impact and helping people pursue impactful careers. Their decade-long evidence-based research into what the world's most important problems are, how people can develop skills to help solve these problems while prioritizing their fit and happiness, how to figure out your passion, and a lot more has helped me learn a lot about myself and guide my choices. This is my honest personal experience and is not sponsored by anyone. Hopefully, you get the same value as me from this completely free resource! #impact I'll leave the link in the first comment.

EDIT: Thank you all for the brilliant suggestions. Kindly note that I’m going to review every suggestion before 27th January 2024 and then pick from there. So, if you’re reading this after 27th Jan, note that I’ll have already decided which charities to work with on this. Thanks again for your help :) - Good news: Charity leaders, I'm for hire (for free) as a speaker. I'll be doing Ten Charity Talks as part of my Fifty-Two Speaking Events this year. I've not done a great deal of charity work (yet) but have done lots in business: 1. Founded the UK's Leading Personal Branding agency: WOAW 2. Worked with 100s of companies (from small ones to $1bn valuations) 3. Run a profitable business for 5+ years, hired, fired, now founded 3 more I'm passionate about work that helps: 1. Guide those who've been dealt a bad hand in life 2. People who work hard but lack role models 3. Provide self-esteem to young people I can talk about a bunch of stuff, including: 1. How to build relationships that can change your life 2. How to work with your future self to improve your opportunities 3. How to create a personal brand that can accelerate your career growth Here's how hiring me for free as a speaker works: 1. I'll come to your office or your event 2. I'll deliver a talk to the team or community you work with 3. I'll waive my fee and cover all expenses, inc. travel and accommodation Regarding requirements, the talk must: 1. Be in-person 2. Take place in Europe 3. Happen within 6 months Why I'm doing this: 1. Exposure to new life realities that I don't know about 2. Meet new leaders who want to leave the world a better place 3. My Mum: She continues to show me that helping costs nothing If you want to hire me (for free) as a speaker for the charity you work for, write "we're in" in the comments below and I'll start organising dates for the next few weeks. If you know a charity that this could work well for, tag them ⤵

'Networking' is a word sometimes met with trepidation by those seeking new career opportunities, particularly if you are not used to 'putting yourself out there'.  Every week I have the privilege of meeting people seeking change in their career. I am often asked for advice on the best approach to this and leveraging your network is at the top of my list. Although this article is not related to job search specifically, I found really relevant and practical. https://lnkd.in/g_eDkYBc

I almost posted this days ago as I was so excited going through the website and book but managed to hold off until I finished reading. 80,000 hours is a good estimate of the amount of time someone will work over the course of their career (40 hours per week for approximately 50 weeks a year over 40 years). My whole life I've struggled with finding work that has meaning, a purpose. In 2011 Benjamin Todd and William MacAskill felt a similar calling and were among the early pioneers of the "effective altruism" movement, the concept of doing good for others in the most efficient way possible. Over the past week I've explored their website (80000hours.org) and downloaded and read their free e-book (80,000 Hours: Find A Fulfilling Career That Does Good). I wish I had known about them a decade ago. Their idea is that true self-fulfillment comes from contribution to society and humanity. Rather than following your passion, find what you're good at and enjoy doing, figure out the most efficient way to help others with it, and you will know true fulfillment. The material is outstanding. Clear, web-designed website offering information including their books, a job board, career exploration resources, and even the ability to speak with their team. And all free. They are funded entirely by donations and grants from philanthropists and philanthropic organizations/foundations. They do not accept corporate donations to avoid any bias or conflict of interest. They're not perfect (and they know it; they have an entire section dedicated to "Our Mistakes" as a way of being transparent to users as well as using these failures as a learning experience) and one of their four approaches (Earning to Give-essentially finding a high paying job and simply giving up to 10% of your income to efficient, charitable causes) have generated criticisms of elitism. I wouldn't go that far, but I will say that solving problems needs boots on the ground and concerted action more than donations as we approach a tipping point in several areas of crisis. However their other three approaches (Advocacy, Research, & Direct Work) are detailed, well-written, and offer both practical advice and a more nuanced, analytical way to approach the issues facing our planet today. Alas, I have worked approximately 40,000 of my hours and this book is probably a little more effective for someone still in college or just entering the job market. But I have changed my thinking in terms of how I pursue the next phase of my working life, what causes I should fight for, and how to truly make a difference. #socialimpact #80000hours #effectivealtruism